THE ORTOLAN BUNTING. 



205 



the back is reddish grey with black spots, breast 

 and under parts bay, the feathers being tipped with grey ; 

 a narrow band of yellow proceeds from the angle of the 

 bill, and extends over the lower part of the face like a 





ORTOLAN BUNTING. 



moustache. The length is about six inches and a quarter. 

 It is a rare species in this country, and was first described 

 by Brown under the head of the Green-headed Buntingj 

 from a living specimen taken in Marylebone Fields by a 

 London bird-catcher. Two or three other specimens only 

 have been taken in Britain. The bird is only a summer 

 visitor to the middle and northern countries of Europe. It 

 is found in high northern latitudes every season, and the 

 wonder is that so few reach this country. 



La Vaillant observes of this species that it is most nume- 

 rous in the northern parts of France, where it arrives about 

 the same time as the Swallows, and a little before the Quails. 

 And Mr. Hay, in reference to the habits of the bird in a 

 part of the continent farther north, observes that it makes 

 its appearance at the beginning of May, and almost imme- 

 diately pairs and commences building. i Its monotonous, 



